Avignonesi Vino Nobile di Montepulciano 2021
#44 Value of the Year (James Suckling’s 2024 Top 100)
95 Pts, James Suckling – 93 Pts, International Wine Review – 92+ Pts, Vinous
Most Americans hear “Montepulciano” and think of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo—that affordable, everyday red from east of Rome. But they’re not the same. Not even close. Vino Nobile di Montepulciano is Tuscan Sangiovese from a small, prestigious zone that sits alongside Brunello and Chianti Classico as one of Italy’s first four DOCGs. It has Renaissance roots. It was once even called “the king of all wines.” And somehow, it’s become one of the greatest values in Italian wine that nobody talks about!
Case in point: Today I have one of the best – the 2021 Avignonesi Vino Nobile. It’s absolutely fantastic, earned 95, 93, and 92+ points from three major critics, and even ended up on James Suckling’s Top 100 Values of 2024 list at #44. But because no one understands that this is absolutely knockout, silky dark-fruited Sangiovese magic from Tuscany, it somehow flies under the radar. This is a must-have for Chianti lovers.
Original price was: $26.00.$22.95Current price is: $22.95.
Out of stock
MORE INFO
95 Points, James Suckling
“A wine of austere elegance on the nose due to a tight mix of red cherries and sweet violets soaked in orange zest. The juicy palate is medium- to full-bodied with ripe and velvety tannins and lifted, precise acidity. The savory and mostly floral aftertaste is full of tension. Great sample. Drink or hold.”
93 Points, International Wine Review
The Vino Nobile annata is an incredible value. It offers beautiful freshness and bright, herbal tinged cherry fruit that begin with the bouquet and extend through a long, flavorful finish. It’s a youthful wine from a great vintage, so consider laying down a few bottles to drink later. 100% Sangiovese matured 18 months in Slavonian oak barrels and 500L tonneaux.
92+ Points, Vinous
The 2021 Nobile opens with a minty freshness, with a bouquet of sweet herbs and stone dust giving way to a bright cherry note and autumnal spice nuances. This is sleek and youthfully slender yet packed with tart wild berry fruit tones and a spike of citrus that ride a silken textural wave. Hints of sweet lavender amass toward the close. The 2021 tapers off with potent length and structure, leaving the palate with a pleasantly bitter sensation that calls the taster back to the glass. Give the 2021 a few years to mellow out—it will be worth the wait.
Avignonesi is a quiet giant in Tuscany. While Brunello and Chianti Classico get most of the attention, Vino Nobile di Montepulciano sits right there alongside them as one of Italy’s first four DOCGs. The wine has Renaissance roots—it was once called “the king of all wines”—and Avignonesi has been its modern guardian for decades.
What sets them apart is their commitment to terroir and community. The estate has converted nearly 400 acres to biodynamic and organic farming, employs its workforce year-round (not just at harvest), and fully supports Montepulciano’s new “Pieve” designation, which requires wines to be made exclusively from estate-grown Sangiovese and native grapes. No international varieties, no shortcuts—just pure expression of place.
Related Products
Related products
-
Other Red Wines
Vinas Serranas Ciclon Rufete Sierra Francia 2021
Original price was: $22.00.$17.95Current price is: $17.95. -
Collector Series
Alain Voge Cornas Vieilles Vignes 2020
Original price was: $90.00.$79.95Current price is: $79.95. -
American Wines
Quilceda Creek Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley 2020
Original price was: $275.00.$235.00Current price is: $235.00. -
Library Selections
Dominus Estate 2012
Original price was: $355.00.$309.00Current price is: $309.00. -
Library Selections
Dominus Estate 2009
Original price was: $369.00.$279.00Current price is: $279.00.
